Could "Johnny Silverhand," the iconic character from "Cyberpunk 2077," make a return? Hollywood superstar Keanu Reeves, who portrays the rebellious rocker, has recently expressed multiple times his desire to reprise the role, prompting "Cyberpunk" series creator Mike Pondsmith to humorously respond, "I know how to make that happen, Keanu, contact me!"
This fan-stirring exchange took place during an official CD Projekt Red livestream. While discussing the "Cyberpunk" series and collaborations with celebrity actors in games, Pondsmith mentioned that he had seen Reeves' interview and was equally interested in Johnny Silverhand's potential return.
"I saw Keanu recently saying he wanted to find a way to bring Johnny back, and I thought — I know how to do that, Keanu, contact me," Pondsmith said with a laugh.
However, bringing Johnny back into the storyline is no easy feat. According to the game's lore, he died decades before the main story of 2077 begins, and players' choices regarding his fate in the game's endings leave the character's future highly uncertain.
Some fans speculate that if the sequel were to have him "survive beyond the Blackwall" in an AI form, a plausible return could be found, though such a setup might force the developers to canonize a specific ending.
Pondsmith also joked during the livestream, "You get Keanu Reeves, then you get Idris Elba. Who's next? Scarlett Johansson? Scarlett, I've got a role for you!"
He emphasized that part of "Cyberpunk 2077"'s success stemmed from the actors' dedication and understanding of their roles: "They weren't just stars; they were fully immersed in the characters, which made the whole world feel more real."
CD Projekt Red has confirmed that a "Cyberpunk" sequel is currently in development, tentatively referred to as "Cyberpunk 2." Recent job postings indicate the studio is seeking engineers with expertise in "building high-performance online experiences" and "optimizing multiplayer systems," strongly suggesting the new title will feature multiplayer elements.